Tamil Nadu

Lankan refugees to get driving licences

INTERFACE: Minister for Backward Classes Welfare K. K. S. S. R. Ramachandran (second from right) interacting with Sri Lankan refugees at a camp near Vembakottai in Virudhunagar district on Saturday. Collector K. Raghupathi (right) looks on.

VIRUDHUNAGAR: The State Government has instructed to issue driving licenses to the inmates of Sri Lankan refugee camps, Minister for Backward Classes Welfare K.K.S.S.R. Ramachandran has said.

Reacting to requests from the camp residents on the license issue when he inspected five refugee camps in the district, he said that necessary steps would be taken to issue licenses.

He also advised the inmates to make a representation to him or Collector K. Raghupathi, if they faced any hurdles on the issue.

He also promised to take up the issue of allowing educated youths from the camp to work in out-stations.

The refugees complained of poor sanitation, roads, bus services, toilet facilities and lack of adequate street lighting to the Minister, when he along with the Collector, inspected the camps.

The Minister asked the respective block development officers to set right the civic amenities like drinking water supply, drainage, road at the earliest. The Tamil Nadu Electricity Board officials were instructed to ensure that power was supplied at the right voltage.

The Tahsildar (Refugee Camp) was asked to prepare list of houses that required maintenance and that required re-construction and cost estimate for the work.

The self-help groups of the camps would be provided revolving fund soon, he added.

The residents also highlighted the poor quality of rice distributed through the ration shops at Kandiyapuram and Anaikuttam.

A total of 3,669 residents were put in the six camps in the district.

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